U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Ford ECONOLINE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

28 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

86,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 28 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Engine operation	4	14.3%
Electrical and battery issues	3	10.7%
Transmission and shifting	2	7.1%
Steering behavior	2	7.1%
Fuel system concerns	2	7.1%
Braking behavior	1	3.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Vehicle Speed Control

Engine

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Tires

Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control

Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash

Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Vehicle Speed Control	6
Engine	3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	2
Tires	2
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control	2
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	1
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)	1

Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Tires: 2; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc): 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001

2002

2003

2004

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2012

2013

2014

2016

2017

2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10053758 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS BLOWING OUT BLACK SMOKE OUT THE TAIL PIPE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A VALVE COVER GASKET FAILURE. *AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053758 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10285125 · 2009-09-24 (September 24, 2009)

AMBULANCE ON FORD E-450 AND F-350 CHASSIS HAVE HAD MAJOR FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES. BOTH AMBULANCES IN THE PAST YEAR HAVE HAD THE LINING OF THE DIESELF FUEL TANKS RUST OFF AND GET PULLED INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE METAL FLAKES HAVE RUINED SENDING UNITS,FUEL PUMPS, DIESEL INJECTORS, FUEL FILTERS AND FILTER HOUSINGS. IT HAS CAUSED THE AMBULANCES TO STALL WHILE TRANSPORTING CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS TO THE HOSPITAL. IR HAS ALSO COST CLOSE TO $9000.00 TO FIX BOTH AMBULANCES. THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE ALL FUEL COMPONENTS FROM THE DIESEL TANK FORWARD TO THE DI…

Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285125 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10202376 · 2007-09-10 (September 10, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SPEED CONTROL RECALL. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY WARNING LIGHT REGARDING A POSSIBLE FIRE. THE INSULATION ON ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS IMPROPERLY FUSED AND THE LOW-WEIGHT SHOCKS WERE INCORRECT AND FAULTY. HE STATED THAT THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH CONTAINED THE INCORRECT INSULATION. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000. UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ UPDATED …

Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202376 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10216108 · 2008-01-22 (January 22, 2008)

2001 FORD ECONOLINE WITH SPEED CONTROL SENSOR RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH VANS HAVE THIS RECALL CONCERNING THE SPEED CONTROL AND THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST OF 2008 IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *KB THE SECOND VAN IS A 2001 FORD ECONOLINE. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH, BUT THEY DIDN'T INSTALL THE FUSED WIRING HARNESS PER THE RECALL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216108 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10033690 · 2003-08-12 (August 12, 2003)

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033690 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10063229 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. ALSO, CLUTCH MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063229 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10041977 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT STABILITY PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESIST IF THERE WAS A STRONG WIND, VEHICLE WOULD COME OUT OF THE ROAD OR CONSUMER COULD EASILY LOSE CONTROL. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL WAS SENSITIVE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WERE FIVE TRUCKS IN THE MARKET THAT WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY, AND CONSUMER OWNED ONE OF THEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041977 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10443886 · 2012-01-15 (January 15, 2012)

THERE IS A SMALL PLATE THAT HAS 2 ALLEN HEAD BOLTS HOLDING IT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT .THIS PLATE PUTS THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE BOLTS CAME LOOSE AND THE VAN ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO THE GARAGE DOOR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN PARK AND THE DRIVER WAS STANDING OUTSIDE,NEXT TO THE VAN

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10443886 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10444383 · 2012-01-18 (January 18, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ECONOLINE. WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND RESIST ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE EXACT FAILURE. THE FUEL FILLER WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444383 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10840428 · 2016-03-08 (March 8, 2016)

BUCKING, SHAKING, LOSS OF POWER. TIRES FELT OUT OF ALIGNMENT. STALLING AND ROUGH IDLE. LINING IN THE FUEL TANK PEELS OFF AND THE MATERIAL FROM THE LINING IS CLOGGING THE FUEL PUMP. THIS AFFECTS TRUCKS, VANS FROM THE YEARS 2000 UP. THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS .MUCH TRAFFIC TO BE NEGOTIATED UNTIL I FINALLY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10840428 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10238249 · 2008-08-13 (August 13, 2008)

2001 FORD ECONOLINE TRUCK CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL WAS REPAIRED. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RUMBLING/GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER VERIFIED THE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL BEARING WAS LOOSE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10238249 at NHTSA ↗